Why did we take out Mathis? [R]

[Noah Dahl]

Granted I've had a few drinks, but I think Mathis should've stayed on the field.

We had enough runners, no guns. Somebody had to be able to play the telling ball, and in the first half that was Mathis.

Beasely as Man of the Match? If he could freaking finish, Clint would have at least one assist by halftime, and the US probably takes this game. And US soccer conquers Houston.

P.S. McBride with another shot for the throw-in. I got an idea - try subbing HIS ass.

[Fah Que]

It's probably pre-arranged deal to have Mathis play half and Stewart play half. Or Mathis injuried something.

[TWR]

B/c Mathis has to rest up for the big match against much hated DC United.

METROSTARS, METROSTARS!!!!!

[Jacen McCullough]

My guess is that he just isn't up to playing a full 90 at the international level just yet (he did just have hernia surgury a little over a month ago.). I also see Arena as one of those coaches who looks down the road a little. I think he knew that he was going to bring Convey on in the middle, and that meant subbing one of Donovan, McBride or Mathis. With Donovan being able to run all day, and McBride on such a good run lately, the move made sense.

[Goalkeeps7]

He's fine, + he's just fit(took a bit of time).

He left early so he can rest up to score 2 in 65 min on sat.

[Noah Dahl]

Originally posted by Jacen McCullough
and McBride on such a good run lately, the move made sense.

Except that Clint was playing better than McBride, and is clearly a bigger threat than McBride. And then there's Earnie...

[CbR]

mcbride is the shizzzel,,that nutmeg he made was world class


mathis still needs some time

did we have a free kick oppertunity in this game?

[Richie]

As it turned out after watching Stewart taking mathis out was a mistake. 45 minutes stupid. He should have got at least an hour before stewart came in. When stewart came in he should have played a striker or a right wing mid and not an offensive mid. if he was a striker then Jones play a wing and bring Landow as a mid. Donovan attackes in the flow so he will still be up when it counts.

I hate Mathis taking corners as a Metrostar and I hate him taking corners on the national team. I want to see him putting in corners as a taget player for both teams

[Goalkeeps7]

Originally posted by CbR
mcbride is the shizzzel,,that nutmeg he made was world class



McBride blew 2 chances to finish off a goal. The cross from convey(i think) was superb, and he let it glide right off his shin.

Not saying clint was flawless...but i will say he was playing better than McBride.

[miked9]

I don't think Mathis should have been replaced at halftime (in hindsight, of course...stewart did wonders vs venezuela and was just a lil off tonight)

but no way clint played better than mcbride tonight...clint had some nice touches, but was almost entirely invisible for the first 30 minutes.

[voros]

Originally posted by Noah Dahl
P.S. McBride with another shot for the throw-in. I got an idea - try subbing HIS ass.

That wasn't a shot, that was a knock down for Hejduk. Don't know what he thought Frankie would do with it had he been there (my guess is that Frankie would have seen the ball in the box and instinctively tried to clear it), but that was the plan. Should have tried something else.

We need some shooting practice. Should have netted at least one tonight.

[Richie]

Originally posted by miked9
I don't think Mathis should have been replaced at halftime (in hindsight, of course...stewart did wonders vs venezuela and was just a lil off tonight)

but no way clint played better than mcbride tonight...clint had some nice touches, but was almost entirely invisible for the first 30 minutes.

His problem is when he passes he admires his pass and does not get into the flow of play. If he did he would get three shots more on goal a game then he is getting now. Then will translate into a goal a game scored by Mathis.

Maybe, Arena is telling him not to follow his pass?

He had Beasily comming back, he had hejuk comming back he had the three backs and he had mastro and Armas back. I just can't believe Arena actually wanted Mathis to stay back after the pass as well.

If Mathis moved into the flow Arena would never have taken him out in my view. He would be too dangerous to be taken out. It is very annoying watching him watch his pass I hate when he does that.

[EL MONO MARIO]

Why dose BA continue with this guy he has nothing.. All the stuff he had during the WCQ and WC are gone... No commitment, no energy, slow, just don't see what's so good about him. he had 1 good season for the USA, 2001- 2002, after that nothing.

[Foosinho]

Originally posted by Goalkeeps7
McBride blew 2 chances to finish off a goal. The cross from convey(i think) was superb, and he let it glide right off his shin.

I didn't realize that the top third of the thigh is now called a "shin".

Good work by Convey to get free and whip in a driven cross, but it came to just the wrong height for McBride to do anything with.

[Foosinho]

Originally posted by Noah Dahl
Except that Clint was playing better than McBride, and is clearly a bigger threat than McBride. And then there's Earnie...

I think you've had too much to drink, Noah. Mathis played reasonably well, but McBride played very well, IMO.

[JimmieLivealot]

I think Arena was trying to get someone into the game who could control the ball in midfield. Mathis, as he tends to do, had a few good touches but was also invisible for large parts of the game. Thats fine when he is a forward, but the U.S. needed someone who could control the ball.

Obviously in retrospect this was a mistake as Earnie didn't do much at all, but the idea was sound. It would've been nice to see Convey in that role, as he and Martino are by far the best domestic options for the holding midfield position.

[wdme1]

El Mono - Did you miss the three decisive balls that Mathis played in his 45 tonight? First ball was a penetrating pass to I believe McBride at the top of the eighteen. McBride laid it back for a quality opportunity. Then the through ball to Beasley that was tackled away at the last moment. Then the head ball across the box to Beasley that should have at least resulted on a shot on goal from 10 yards out. I was more than satisfied with his vision tonight.

[lurking]

McBride vs. Mathis is a bad comparison. Mathis vs. Stewart is whats at issue here, and I thought Mathis was the better of the two. I was confused by Bruce's subs in general, they struck me as odd.

[RickDavis]

Originally posted by wdme1
El Mono - Did you miss the three decisive balls that Mathis played in his 45 tonight? First ball was a penetrating pass to I believe McBride at the top of the eighteen. McBride laid it back for a quality opportunity. Then the through ball to Beasley that was tackled away at the last moment. Then the head ball across the box to Beasley that should have at least resulted on a shot on goal from 10 yards out. I was more than satisfied with his vision tonight.

I agree. In his forty-five minutes, he created perhaps the three best scoring chances we had all night. Too bad he was not also on the receiving end of those passes, as he is our best finisher.

[Jacen McCullough]

There was another Mathis pass that should have been a scoring chance. He slotted the ball to Donovan, but Landon couldn't settle it, which gave the defender the split second he needed to keep Donovan from breaking downfield.